This they well know who are imployed in making a quantity of Vinegar; and upon this account do they in Summer time set their Vessels open to the Sun, and in the Winter, they keep them in warm stoves near the fire, and both afore and behind, and at the bottom do they make holes to give the Air entrance, that so they might the speedilier promote the changing of the Wine, Ale and Metheglin into Vinegar.
They likewise know this too, that even strong Vinegar if it be a long time shut and kept from Air, corrupts and dies. The which thing, seeing it is to be as well understood of other Subjects, as of these here, viz. Salt-petre and Vinegar, we may affirm thus much, That by how much the more of warm Air comes to the Wine or Ale, so much the sooner will they pass into Vinegar. And by how much the more of warm Air the Salts draw, so much the speedier will they draw a Life thereout-of, and put on themselves the nature and property of Salt-petre. This is the reason why the Salt-petre boilers do sometimes turn or dig up the Earth from whence they have had Salt-petre, and moisten it with water, that so the Air may the more commodiously penetrate that Earth by its operation, and infuse Nitre thereinto. But yet this business goes slowly on, and may be compared with that where a man presseth out Grapes or Apples a little, and then exposeth those Reliques of the press’d Grapes or Apples to the Air, or else grinds Malt somewhat grosly and moistens it with water and so sets it by that it may be endued with the nature and virtues of Vinegar: It would indeed come to pass, but yet much slower than if Wine, Ale, or other Drinks were set by so, without the huskiness or bran: The same is to be observed in the making of Salt-petre. By how much the more, the Air toucheth the Salts, so much the speedier will it reduce them into living Nitre. This may be seen in old walls that are built in moist places, you see how the Lime sprouts out and is converted into Salt-petre. We see not the same thing done in the inside of the wall, where the Air can cannot penetrate into it. Hence know I of a truth, that it is not the husks of the Grapes, nor the husks or bran of the Corn grows sour, but it is the thin Juice or Liquor that is either pressed out of them, or extracted with water. And I likewise see that ’tis not the Ashes, nor Calx vive, nor the like calcined things that becomes Nitre, but only the Salt that is hidden in them. Therefore seeing that all calcined things being moistned with water and for a long time exposed to the warm Air do extract a Life and become Salt-petre, and that the Ashes and Calx are like a dead Earth and never yield Salt-petre, but remain a dead Earth. Likewise, forasmuch as such Earth doth not at all conferr ought to the generation and making of Salt-petre, but is rather every where an hindrance thereunto, whereby the Air cannot associate it self to the Salt; therefore do I separate the earth, body, shell, and useless garment, and keep the Salt, and I introvert it by the Air and turn it into Salt-nitre, but yet not without the addition of Water, in which the Salt is dissolved and rendred more fit for extracting a Life out of the Air; for otherwise should the Salt remain dry this transmutation would be a tedious while a bringing to the desired end.
If therefore the Salts that are prepared by the fire are dissolved in water, and the water be together with it kept by peculiar Instruments in perpetual motion, and some heat be also thereto adjoined, so that there be not the least Atoms of the Salts to be found which have not the uncessant penetration of the warm air, and which are not animated, (because the warm air and motion do in all places touch and vivify the Salts): Such an operation as this does more in four Weeks, than if the Salt lay in the heaped up Earth and open to the air (far longer) wherein it would not in a whole years time attain to so great a change. But this perpetual agitation and heating consisteth in a certain wooden Instrument which may of its own accord by an unceasing motion heat the Salt-water, so as that every Week a growing alteration may be evidently seen and perceived. It is not of any great charge, and one may get ready as many Vessels to be filled with Salt-water to make Salt-petre with (as he pleaseth) for one Man can manage an hundred of them or more and conserve them in continual heat and motion, so that a Man may keep such an Art secret as long as he pleaseth. And as concerning the ordering the salt by the help of the fire and getting it a magnetick and attractive faculty afore it be dissolved in water to be put into the Vessels; and also how the Vessels are to be prepared, this cannot be conveniently declared in writing, but it is expedient that as well the manual operations requisite for the endowing of salt with a magnetick faculty, as the Instruments necessary for the turning it into Salt-petre be also well lookt into, with all the appurtenances thereto belonging. Any one will easily comprehend them all, and be able to imitate them; yea far easier than any gross or great work, and it may be improved in any subject whatever. It is not any sordid kind of operation, but pure and clean, it needs not any making of Lixiviums, nor any decoction, nor any evaporation, but perfecteth it self without impediment or retarding the work, and coagulates the Salt into Nitre. Verily it is a most delicate and most profitable invention, from which many others may have a beginning and flow.
Thus have we declared and proved that the soul of the World vivifying dead salts, and turning them into Salt-petre, adds not unto them either weight or encrease, and yet nevertheless it is of such abundant efficacy and power as to reduce them all to Life, which Life is no other thing but the little Bird of Hermes, and easily admits of being esteemed for the most noble amongst all the Creatures GOD hath made, set aside but the soul of Man, and may by the help of Art be again extracted out of the Salt-petre. But that I may mention the thing more openly and more clearly; I say, that the salts must (by the help of Fire and Art) first get a magnetick and attractive power and faculty afore they can draw a Life out of the air. Now then, after that the universal Life of the World is caught and fettered as it were by the salts, and hath turned the dead salts into living nitre, yet that life lies hidden in that Salt-petre invisibly, and can but a little or scarce any thing at all shew out or display its virtues by reason of the Gross body of the salt.
NB. If so be that any one shall but know how to draw out this Life again out of the Nitre, and bring it into a body, and make it visible, he shall have a thing so admirable that he’ll scarce find the like (as I believe) in all natural things. For there is such a sweet and red Liquor, as to sight, thence had, that one only small drop will tinge a thousand parts of water with a Golden colour: which (said Liquor) I have not as yet brought to a constant or fixed Medicine, but do make use of it in Medicine (as it is) and I find in it things wonderful. But this little Bird (as far as I know) cannot be again extracted out of the Nitre by any other subject than with a net artificially prepared of Sheeps-skins.
Such a worthy thing as this is, do I rank in the number of great secrets and mysteries, and I suppose it to be that work which the knowledge desiring Jason, being holpen by Medea who was most skilful in the Chymical Art, took away from the Dragon, and called it the Golden Fleece: But I would not have any one perswade himself that I speak here of such a Tincture as is extracted out of fixt Nitre (and likewise the same is extractable out of Salt of Tartar) by Spirit of Wine. No, that is no true Tincture, but the Spirit of Wine is somewhat altered and tinged by the fixt salt. But that Liquor of mine is the true, occult, and inmost Tincture, Virtue, and Life of the Nitre, and is of a golden Nature, but plainly flying and volatile, one drop whereof doth so gild an whole Imperial, as if it were gilt over with Ducket Gold. This Tincture cannot be changed or altered by any contrary Menstruum, be it Corrosive or Urinous, no nor by Aqua-fortis, or Liquor of Salt of Tartar; the like of which is scarce to be found in all nature.
For if there be a most delicate colour drawn out of the Vegetables, as Cochenele, Saffron, and such like, by the help of the Spirit of Wine, and there be dropt therein but one only drop of Aqua-fortis, the colour will presently turn pale, and if you add more, it will vanish for altogether. Or else if a drop of the Liquor of Salt of Tartar should be put therein, it would presently change colour and become duskyish. But now, this true Tincture of Nitre, or Soul of the World suffers not any change from either of the contraries. And should one have even a metallick Tincture, or extract even from Gold it self, yet would it not stand in this tryal, but would be precipitated either by the acid or the fixt salt, and separate from the Menstruums. But ours doth constantly abide in every trial, and resists both the contraries.
I do therefore repeat what I have often said, that there is more lies hidden in Nitre than many thousands of Men can perswade themselves of. But because it is so vile and abject a thing, no body thinks that there lies hidden any thing of good therein. But do but read the chiefest of the Philosophers, and you shall therein find that they do enigmatically point at Nitre, and do call it the Dragon which is to be slain by its Brother or Sister afore it parts with its Treasure; But enough of this.
The things hitherto mentioned, have I produced for this end, that my Neighbour may be the better certified concerning them. All the Philosophers Books are full of this thing, amongst whom, Hermes, and Basil Valentine excel, who have written most clearly. Paracelsus saith openly, Alchimy hath found it in Nitre. The late Philosopher Nuisment, hath published a Treatise of the Salt and Spirit of the World, and is verily most worthy the reading, which (said Book) I commend to the Reader that studies these things. Therefore do I here again repeat what I have so oft reiterated, viz. That Salt-petre is the most admirable, the most excellent, and the most powerful Subject of the whole World, whose wonderful properties cannot be enough search’d into. But because it hath its rise from dung and putrid rotten things the greatest company of foolish ones do despise it, but the small company of Philosophers and Wise-men (who are those that know what admirable virtues it has) do most highly esteem it, and set thereon a great value. The well disposed Reader will clearly find more as to its virtue and efficacy, in the three following parts.
O thou the original of all good things, and Treasure of all Treasures, vouchsafe that we may well and rightly improve this earthly and fading Treasure, and may so search after, and use it unto the end, that we lose not the chiefest good, but may rather find and keep thee for ever.